Red tide alert: Public warned vs eating shellfish

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) warned the public over the weekend not to eat all types of shellfish due to the toxic red tide affecting some coastal areas in the country.

“All types of shellfish (mussels, oysters, clams, etc.) and alamang (Acetes sp.) gathered in coastal waters in six provinces are not safe to eat due to paralytic shellfish poison or toxic red tide,” the DOH said in a statement.

It cited Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources data which identified the coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate; Dauis town and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; San Pedro Bay in Samar; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar and San Benito in Surigao del Norte as being affected by red tide.

The DOH also said that fish, squids, shrimps (except their heads) and crabs are still safe to eat so long as these are fresh and washed thoroughly, with internal organs removed before cooking.

Signs and symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning have a rapid onset and can be felt within 12 hours after eating unsafe shellfish, it added.

“These include numbness around the mouth or face, dizziness, pricking sensation and/or paralysis of hands and feet, body weakness, rapid pulse, difficulty talking, swallowing or breathing and headache,” it added, aside from the possibility of abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea.